Stream splitter for dividing granular materials



Jan. 13, 1953 w. c. CONKLING 2,625,305

STREAM SPLITTER FOR DIVIDING GRANUL-AR MATERIALS Filed June 2, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l 4 4 v INVENTOR.

BY Q

Jan. 13, 1953 w. c. CONKLING STREAM SPLITTER FOR orvwmc GRANULAR MATERIALS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Fiied June 2, 1950 Patented Jan. 13, 1953 STREAM SPLITTER FOR DIVIDING GRANULAR MATERIALS William C. Conkling, Lockport, N. Y., assignor to Richmond Manufacturing Company, Lockport, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application J une 2, 1950, Serial No. 165,637

6 Claims.

This invention relates to stream dividers or splitters such as are used to divide a stream of solid materials, such as stock in a flour mill, into a plurality of streams each forming a predetermi'ned percentage of the input stream, it being important that the division be made with a high degree of accuracy to insure, for example, uniform feed of the stock to opposite ends of a high speed sifter. Without such uniform feed of stock to the opposite ends of a high speed sitter, the sifter would .be unbalanced and its screening efiiciency greatly reduced.

Stream dividers or splitters of a type that can be designated as a pressure type of distributor have been proposed. These distributors depend upon a reservoir of material, the. efiective level in which is maintained by a mechanical device for retarding the discharge from the reservoir, or, conversely, a mechanical device is provided for discharging the material from the reservoir at a rate equal, on the average, to the rate of supply. The reservoirs are usually roughly cylindrical in shape and are mechanically agitated. In every case a second agitator tends to force the discharge of the material by centrifugal action in the form of a radial curtain of uniform motion to a vertically falling stream of stock in order to disperse it into a disk-like curtain of stock formed because of the tendency of the particles to take a radial path. The discharge spouting is arranged to catch certain percentages of the curtain and effect certain divisions of the total flow. Such whirling types of distributors have poor dividing accuracy at low rates. though these dividers divide well when running at full capacity, when there is only a small stream of stock flowing on center it is picked up, whirled around in a concentrated mass, difiused some.

but discharged to a large extent along a limitedperipheral length of the rotating member.--- Further the effective range of any size of such a distributor is limited and t e cap ty is else l It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a stream splitter or divider which has a high degree of accuracy of the split or division at all rates of flow of the material being handled.

Another object is to provide such a stream splitter capable of handling a wide range of flow of stock and which also, in any one position of adjustment, also efiects satisfactory division over a wide range of flow so that frequent adjustments with normal flow variations 'are unnecessary.

Another object is to provide such a stream splitter which for its size has high capacity.

Another object is to provide such a stream splitter which has low power consumption.

Other objects are to provide such a stream splitter which is simple in construction and which is not likely to get out of order or require repair under conditions of severe and constant use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stream divider embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3--3, Fig. 1.

The stream divider or splitter embodying the present invention is shown as comprising a casting 5 having a conical upper part 6 which converges upwardly, a horizontal part 8 extending inwardly from the lower rim of the conical part 6 and a neck 9 projecting downwardly from the central part ofthe horizontal part 8. At the apex of the conical part 6 the casting 5 carries a ball bearing i0 and a similar ball bearing Ii is mounted in the lower end of the neck 9. These ball bearings are combined radial and thrust bearings and jointly support a vertical shaft [2 which is shown as driven through a pulley l3 secured to its lower end.

To drive the pulley [3 an electric motor 14 bracket l5 and each of the rods l 6 to provide the necessary rigidity. The rods l6 straddle the axis of the depending neck 9 of thecasting 5 and extend through a pair of horizontal bores through; horizontal semicylindrical enlargements l9 provided on opposite sides of the depending neck 3 9. The free ends of the rods [6 are threaded and are secured to the depending neck 9 by a pair of nuts 20. The. shaft 2] of the motor 14 carries a pulley 22 in line with the pulley l3 and con nected therewith by a driving belt 23.

The casing or housing of the stream divider comprises a lowersheet metal conical section 25 which diverges upwardly and has its lower or small rim 26 extending under the conical portion of the casting 5 and secured to the rim of the horizontal part 8 of this casting by an annular row of screws 28 or in any other suitable manner. The upper or large end of the conical section is formed to provide an upwardly extending vertical rim 29 to which is secured the large depending rim 30 of an upper sheet metal conical section 3! which converges upwardly. The lower or large rim 30 of the upper conical section 3! is shown as fitting around the upwardly extending large rim 29 of the lower conical section 25 and as secured thereto by an annular series of screws 32. The upper small end of the upper conical section 3| is shown as being formed to provide an outwardly projecting annular flange 33 which can be reinforced by an annular sheet metal flat ring 34 disposed against its under side. This flange 33 also carries the outwardly projecting annular flange 35 of a short inlet tube 36 which extends downwardly into the small upper end of the upper conical section 3!.

Immediately below the lower end of this short tube 36 there is an agitator or fan-like impeller 40 which is fast to the vertical shaft l2. This agitator or fan-like impeller 40 is shown as comprising a hub 4i secured to the shaft [2 by a set screw 42 and a sheet metal disc 43 suitably secured to this hub 4 i. As best shown in Fi 2 this disc 43 of the agitator or fan-like impeller is provided at intervals with radial slits 44 extending inwardly from its periphery and the blades 45 so formed are each twisted at an angle of about 22 degrees relative to the horizontal so as to provide fan or impeller blades. The direction of rotation of the vertical shaft [2 is such that these blades tend to drive the stock being handled upwardly into the space 46 between the short inlet tube 36 and the upper end of the upper conical section 3| of the casing. It will also be noted that the set screw 42 permits of vertical adjustment of the agitator or fan-like impeller 40 with reference to the lower end of the short inlet tube 35.

Below the agitator or fan-like impeller 40 the vertical shaft l2 carries the hub 48 of a pair of sweep arms 49 which rotate with the shaft I2. These sweep arms extend downwardly in diverging relation to each other generally parallel with the conical part 6 of the casting 5. At its lower end each of these arms 49 carries a sweep 5a of leather or other suitable material, these sweeps being shaped to fit the corner between the conical part 6 of the casing 5 and the upwardly diverging lower conical section 25 of the casing of the stream divider. The sweeps 50 can be secured in any suitable manner as by flattening the ends of the arms and securing the sweeps by plates and pairs of bolts 52.

The lower conical section 25 of the casing carries a plurality of spouts 53 the number and arrangement of which is determined by the number of streams desired and the desired proportion of each stream to the stream fed to the stream sp it r i ider. In theiorm of the in entio shown two oppositely located spouts 53 of equal size are provided and hence the stream p t e shown will divide the materials fed to it into two equal streams. However any desired number of spouts 53 can be provided to obtain an increased number of streams and further their spacing or size with reference to one another can be varied to obtain any desired percentage of the input through any particular outlet spout 53. The outlet spouts 53 are shown as projecting downwardly and outwardly from the lower conical section 25 of the stream splitter casing and as secured to this section by an outwardly extending flange 54 provided at the upper end of each of the spouts 53.

In operation the upper flange of the stream splitter or divider jointly provided by the parts 33, 34, and 35 can be secured to the usual spouting board (not shown) and the stock is fed into the upper end of the short inlet tube 36. The stock so entering this stream splitter is therefore confined at the center of the agitator or fanlike impeller 40 by the short inlet tube 36. This agitator or fan-like impeller 40 is rotating and hence its centrifugal action causes the stock being discharged from the lower end of the short inlet tube 36 to be moved outwardly. At the same time this stock is levelled out by the lower edge of the short inlet tube 36 so that a uniform distribution of the stock is obtained traveling radially outwardly from the space between the short inlet tube 36 and the agitator or fan-like impeller 49.

The blades 45 of the agitator or fan-like impeller 40 are pitched to drive the stool; upwardly and hence as the stock reaches the tips of these blades 45 it is propelled upwardly and outwardly against the wall of the upper section 3% of the casing, some of it bouncingback for more agitation and some progressing down this wall of the upper conical section 3i. Thus-in the space 46 just above the tips of the blades 45 there is a churning or boiling of the stock. The stock is worked into a more or less suspended mass from which flows a conical curtain of stock of uniform thickness. Essentially the stream splitter embodying the present invention provides an upwar ly churning reservoir of stock providing a high degree of diifusion and the discharge from which reservoir is a whirling conical curtain.

For any given rate of flow of stock into the stream divider or splitter, the efficiency of the split will depend to some extent on the position of the agitator or fan-like impeller 40 with respect both to the lower edge of the short inlet tube 36 and to the wall of the upper conical section 3! of the casing. These relations are adjusted simultaneously by loosening the set screw 42 and raising the agitator or fan-like impeller 40 for smaller input flow rates and lowering it for larger input flow rates. While a spring could be provided for supporting the agitator or fanlike impeller 40 on the shaft l2 to effect this adjustment automatically, it has been found satisfactory to position the agitator fan-like impeller generally to suit the input flow, this position being satisfactory for a considerable range of flow. Accordingly such adjustment i entirely satisfactory and readjustments are not required unless a very substantial change in input is made.

The whirling conical curtain jointly provided by the agitator or fan-like impeller 49, wall of the upper conical section 31 of the casing and the short inlet tube 36 descends into the lower conical section 25 of the casin where it is enaged by the rotatin sweepsSO and rapidly discharged through the spouts-53. Since the two.-

v spouts of equal size are spaced diametrically opposite each other in the form of stream splitter shown, the streams issuing from each of the spouts will be equal in all respects.

With the stream divider of the present invention it will particularly be noted that the blades 55 are pitched to throw the stock upwardly as well as to impart a whirling motion thereby to provide a churning or boiling reservoir of stock above these blades and which escapes as conical whirling curtain. Thi churning incresaes diffusion at all rates of flow and hence greatly increases the accuracy of the split at all rates of flow as compared with the prior art devices.

It will also be seen that the present stream splitter is of high capacity for any one size. Comparing the inlet diameter of the present invention with the corresponding dimensions of the prior art devices, the present stream splitter has greater capacity in proportion to space requirements.

The present stream splitter requires less power than the above discussed pressure type of distributor.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides an extremely simple and compact stream divider or splitter having low power requirements and a high degree of accuracy of split over a wide range of material flows and which will stand up under continuous use without service difiiculties.

I claim:

1. A stream divider, comprising an enclosed round tubular casing having its axis vertically disposed, a vertical concentric inlet tube of smaller diameter than said casing secured to the top of said casing and having its lower end in spaced relation to the side wall of said casing to provide an annular diffusion chamber around the lower end of said inlet tube, an impeller having its hub arranged immediately below said inlet tube concentric with said axis and having blades extending outwardly to a position beyond the periphery of said inlet tube and under said annular difiusion chamber, said blades being pitched to efiect vertical movement of the stock delivered to said impeller by said inlet tube, means arranged to rotate said impeller in a direction to drive said stock so delivered upwardly into said annular diffusion chamber, and a plurality of outlet spouts leading from the bottom of said casing.

22. A stream divider, comprising an enclosed round tubular casing having its axis vertically disposed and having an upwardly converging conical upper section, a vertical concentric inlet tube of smaller diameter than said casing secured to the apex of said conical upper section and having its lower end in spaced relation to the conical wall thereof to provide an annular diffusion chamber around the lower end of said inlet tube, an impeller having its hub arranged immediately below said inlet tube concentric with its axis and having blades extending outwardiy to a position beyond the periphery of said inlet tube and under said annular diffusion chamber and in closely spaced relation to said conical wall, said blades being pitched to eiiect vertical movement of the stock delivered to said impeller by said inlet tube, means arranged to rotate said impeller to drive said stock so de livered upwardly into said annular diffusion chamber, and a plurality of outlet spouts leading from the bottom of said casing.

23. A stream divider, comprising an enclosed 6. round tubular casing having its axis vertically disposed, a vertical concentric inlet tube of smaller diameter than said casing secured to the top of said casing and having its-lower end in spaced relation to the side wall of said casing to provide an annular diffusion chamber around annular diffusion chamber, said blades being pitched to effect vertical movement of the stock delivered to said impeller by said inlet tube,

means arranged to rotate said impeller in a direction to drive said stock so delivered upwardly into said annular diffusion chamber, a plurality of outlet spouts leading from the bottom of said casing, and means arranged to adjust said impeller and inlet tube vertically relative to each other.

4. A stream divider, comprising an enclosed round tubular casing having its axis vertically disposed and having an upwardly converging conical upper section, a vertical concentric inlet tube of smaller diameter than said casing secured to the apex of said conical upper section and having its lower end in spaced relation to the conical wall thereof to provide an annular difiusion chamber around the lower end of said inlet tube, an impeller having its hub arranged immediately below said inlet tube concentric with its axis and having blades extending outwardly to a position beyond the periphery of said inlet tube and under said annular diiTusion chamber and in closely spaced relation to said conical wall, said blades being pitched to efiect vertical movement of the stock delivered to said impeller by said inlet tube,

means arranged to rotate said impeller to drive said stock so delivered upwardly into said annular diffusion chamber, a plurality of outlet spouts leading from the bottom of said casing, and means arranged to adjust said impeller vertically relative to said inlet tube and conical wall.

5. A stream divider, comprising an enclosed round tubular casing having its axis vertically disposed and having an upwardly converging conical upper section and a downwardly converging conical lower section joined at its enlarged upper end to the enlarged lower end of said conical upper section, a vertical concentric inlet tube projecting downwardly a short distance into the apex of said conical upper section and having its lower end in spaced relation to the conical wall thereof to provide an annular diiiusion chamber between the lower end of said inlet tube and said conical wall, an impeller having its hub arranged immediately below said inlet tube concentric with its axis and having blades extending outwardly to a, position under said annular diffusion chamber and in closely spaced relation to said conical wall, said blades being pitched to effect vertical movement of the stock delivered to said impeller by said inlet tube, means arranged to rotate said impeller to drive said stock so delivered upwardly into said diffusion chamber, and a plurality of outlet spouts leading from said conical lower section.

6. A stream divider, comprising a casting having an upwardly converging upper conical part, a vertical shaft journalled in said casting to rotate about an axis concentric therewith, an enclosed round tubular casing having its axis vertically disposed and having an upwardly converging conical upper section and a downwardly con- 7 verging conical lower section joined at its small lower end to the enlarged lower end of the conica l part of said casting and joined at its enlarged upper end to the enlarged lower end of said conical upper section, a vertical concentric inlet tube of smaller diameter than said conical upper section secured to the apex of said conical upper section and having its lower end in spaced relation to the conical wall thereof to provide an annular diffusion chamber around the lower end of said inlet tube, an impeller having its hub fast to said shaft and arranged immediately below said inlet tube and having blades extending outwardly to a position beyond the periphery of said inlet tube and under said annular diffusion chamberand in closely spaced relation to said conical wall, said blades being pitched to effect vertical movement of the stock delivered to said impeller by said inlet tube, means arranged to rotate said shaft and impeller to drive-said stock so delivered upwardly into said diflfusion chamber, and a plurality of outlet spouts leading from said conical lower section.

WILLIAM C. CONKLING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 204,454 Russell June 4, 1878 339,566 Longsdon Apr. 6, 1886 1,348,885 Lafioon Aug. 10, 1920 

